Steam-pipe system for heating dry-kilns.



PATENTBD 13150.11, 1906.

J. I'. OLDIIELD.

STEAM PIPE SYSTEM POR HEATING DRY KILNS.

APPLICATION FILED 49.116,18, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

"witnesses No. 837,712. TATENTED DEG. 4, 1906.

J. P. OLDEIELD. 4 STEAM TIPE SYSTEM TOE HEATING DRY KILNS.

AIPLIGATION FILED AUG.1B. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEAM-PIPE SYSTEM FOR HEATING DRYKILNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented Dec. 4, 1906.

Application filed August 18. 1905. Serial No. 274,681.

To all whom, it muy concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. OLDFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Pipe Systems for Heating Dry-Kilns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in steam-pipe systems for heating dry-kilns.

One object of the-invention is to provide straight lengths of radiating-pipe without elbows or bends and in which only one end of each pipe will be connected for the passage of steam, the other end being Jfree or independent and closed, thereby obviating the difficulties arising from expansion and contraction.

'Another object is to provide for exhausting the pipes of air before steam is admitted to them, the exhaust being eil'ected at thevv same end of the pipes at which steam is admitted.

The invention is illustrated in the drawings herewith, in which- Figure l is a vertical elevation showing the pipe system at the bottom of a kiln for drying lumber. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pipe system. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the ejector. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of a header, the radiating-pipes, the trap for the water of condensation, and the parts controlling the air-exhaust device and steam.

The dry-kiln system of steam-pipes must be located below the track-rails which extend through the building in order that trucks loaded with lumber and which move on said rails may pass over the pipes.

The track-rails will rest on the stringers a, extending through the building, and the straight radiating-pipes d extend longitudinally and are inclined below the stringers. The lower end of each pipe d is secured to and has communication with a steam-header C, and the higher end of each pipe is sealed or closed. In the present instance a cap e is employed to close the end. The entire length of each pipe is sealed or unconnected an is independent of all other pipes. The header O has three series of inclined radiatingpipes. The pipes of each series are in the same inclined plane, one series being above the other. ries are the longest, and the end caps e pro- 'ect beyond the caps of the other two series.

n like manner the pipes of the middle series The pipes of the lowermost se-' are longer than those o' the uppermost series, and the end caps of the pipes of the middle series project beyond those of the upper series. This arrangement places each cap of the entire slot in an accessible position where a tool may be readily applied. Any suitable provision may be made for supporting these radiating-pipes.

A steam-pipe leads from a boiler (not shown) and connects with the header C. This steam-pipe is designated by the letters ff, and a valve g controls or cuts off the supply o steam.

The air-exhaust device comprises an ejector h, attached to a branch pipe fi, which has a valve i. One end j of the ejector opens to the atmosphere, and the Suction branch c of the ejector is attached to an exhaust branch pipe l, which has a valve m. It will be seen that the valve g, which controls or cuts off the steam to the header C, is between the two branch pipes 'i and Z. A gage 'n is on the air-exhaust branch pipe Z to denote the amount of vacuum that has been obtained in the header O and radiating-pipes d. The ejector has a well-known construction (shown in Fig. 3) and requires no special description.

A steam-trap p of well-known construction is employed, and a pipe g leads from the bottom of the header O to said steam-trap. Thus provision is made for carrying off the water of condensation from the radiatingpipes.

The operation of the apparatus is .as follows: l/Vhen it is desired to supply steam to the radiating-pipes d, the air in the pipes and in the header O will be exhausted by closing the valve g in the main steam-pipe and opening the valve m in the Aexhaust branch and, iinally, opening the steam-valve i in the iirst branch pipe i. This causes a low of steam from the main pe f through branch pipe i and through tIlie ejector h and discharging at to the atmosphere. The steam flowing through the ejector causes a suction or pull on its branch lc, and thereby air is drawn Jfrom the pipe f header O, and radiating-pipes d. The gage n will denote the degree of vacuum. When the air has been sufiiciently exhausted, the valve m of the exhaust branch must be closed, the valve 'i' to the ejector also closed, and the valve g in the steam-pipe opened. Thereupon steam Jfrom the boiler will lill the header and radiatingpipes d. The radiating-pipes, which haveA their Jfree ends capped, are thus exhausted IIO of air from the same end (the lower end) a't which steam is admitted.

This construction and arrangement of ipes with free ends campedi and method ot' rst exhausting the air and creating a vacuum in the pipes and then Jfilling the pipes with live steam results in producing the most effective heat at the ca ped' ends.

This construction iias practical advantages'. Besides being cheaper, itis so simple that the parts when shipped to any remote point may be set up Without the services of an expert steamjtter. l y

Having thusA described my invention, what claim as-` new', and desire` to secure by loet-l ters Patent, i's;

k1. A steam-heating pipe system* for dry-v kilns, having in combination a steam-header; a plural number ol' pipes to' radiate heat each pipeA having one end connected with' said i steam-header and the other end1 closed and unconnected an air-exhaust device in' con'- nection with said steam-header for producmg vacuum in the said header and pi es by eX- hausting' air from the same en'd o the pipes at which steam is admitted, and a steam-sup- Q ply pipe connected with th'e' header.

2. A steam-heating pipe system for drykilns, havin-g in combination a steam-header; a plural number of pipes to radiate heat each branching from` sa'i'd" supplyepipe an ejfector connecting' with said two branching pipes, and a valve in the stearnesupply pipe be= tween the said two branch pipes.V

In testimony whereof a'fliX in presence of two witnesses.

' JoHNl F. oLilbirfiELi).A

my signature Witness-es: t I

CEAS. B. MANN, G. FERDINANEVOGT. 

